Wanderlust was the primary theme for this year’s Apple event, with the tech giant focusing on the desire of people to travel and be on the go. Apple’s launch event on Sept. 13 showcased four new iPhones and two new Apple watches, both equipped with new features.
During the 90-minute presentation, Apple announced a series of newly improved and upgraded devices, from iPhones to Apple Watches.
Here’s everything Apple announced during its September 2023 event:
iPhone 15 and 15 Plus
The newly introduced iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are one of the four flagship phones Apple has announced during the event. The iPhone 15 will have a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR Display partnered with Apple’s ever reliable Ceramic Shield front cover, while the 15 Plus will be bigger upfront with a 6.7-inch display with the protective cover. Moreover, both phones will be powered with Apple’s A16 bionic chip, which was first seen in the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max. On the back end, both phones will feature a 48-megapixel rear camera, which will shoot sharp photos and videos while capturing fine details, with a quad-pixel sensor and 100 percent focus pixels for faster autofocus.
The iPhone 15 will be priced starting at $799 (₱56,990), while the iPhone 15 Plus is available for $899 (₱63,990). Both would also come in five colors (Pink, Yellow, Green, Blue and Black).
iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max
Undeniably, the announcement of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max was the most anticipated and eventually the highlight of this year’s Apple event. Both iPhones are powered by the new A17 Pro chip, which ushers in better performance. The iPhone 15 dons a 6.1 display alongside a battery life of up to 23 hours and high standard 48 megapixel camera. On the other hand, the iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a 6.7 inch display and a battery life that could last up to 29 hours, as well as an exclusive 5x Optical Zoom.
Despite these features being completely identical to its predecessors the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, what separates the new iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max is its new sleek design which is primarily composed of Grade 5 Titanium, which makes the overall phone stronger and lighter. The Pro models also feature USB-C charging and transfer ports which allows for faster transferring of files and charging.
Lastly, the Pro Models also receive an exclusive feature, the action button, the all-new Action button replaces the single-function switch used to toggle between ring and silence, giving users more options such as fast access to the camera or flashlight, activating Voice Memos, Focus settings, Translate, and accessibility capabilities such as Magnifier.
The iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 (₱70,990) while the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199 (₱84,990). Both models are available in four different colors (Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium and Black Titanium).
Apple Watch Series 9
The world renowned smart watch is getting a major upgrade, the new Apple Watch Series 9 will feature the new S9 SiP chip, which will make the watch more reliable than ever.
New features such as the double-tap gestures, improved on-device Siri and a more precise find your iPhone feature headlines the Apple Watch Series 9. Moreover, the new series of watches will continue to operate under the newly improved watchOS 10, which will allow for redesigned applications, the new Smart Stack, new watch faces, and features geared towards cyclists and hikers.
The Apple Watch Series 9 aluminum version starts at the price of $399 (₱26,490) for the 41mm version, while the 45mm version begins with a price of $429 (₱28,490). On the other hand, the stainless steel version of the watch starts at $699 (₱46,990) for the 41mm, while the 45mm starts at $749 (₱49,990).
The aluminum version comes in five different colors (Pink, Midnight, Starlight, Silver and Red), while the stainless steel version only comes in three colors (Gold, Silver and Graphite).
Apple Watch Ultra 2
The new Apple Watch Ultra 2 is by far the most powerful watch of Apple. Also equipped with the new S9 SiP chip, everything that the Apple Watch Series 9 has translates to the new Apple Watch Ultra 2 alongside its exclusive features from its ever reliable predecessor the Apple Watch Ultra 1. Moreover, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 also features an always on retina display similar to the Series 9, although the Ultra 2 has 3,000 nits of brightness, which is considered the brightest display Apple has ever produced for a watch. The battery life of the Ultra 2 is also an upgraded feature, with a battery life that could last 36 hours if regularly used, and 72 hours when in low power mode. The watch also caters to Scuba and Free divers, with the newly improved Depth app, which now logs every dive session.
Despite the upgraded and newly introduced features, what separates the Apple Watch Ultra 2 from its previous and sister models, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is reinforced with Titanium, although not just regular titanium, the watch contains 95% recycled titanium which makes the watch more durable at the same time more environment friendly.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 retails for $799 (₱54,990). Not like the Series 9, the Ultra 2 only comes in a Titanium color, however upon purchase, users get to choose from Apple’s newly introduced straps, namely, the Alpine Loop (for outdoor use), the Trail Loop (for everyday and workout use) and lastly the Ocean Band (for water sports and recreational diving).
To conclude the event, Apple CEO Tim Cook delivered a message, saying, “At Apple, we strive to create innovative products, and best in class experiences, that help us do the things that matter most in our lives.”
Apple’s latest products are available for pre-order on their official website.
